And the streak continues … another Northwestern baseball player is headed for the pros.
The San Diego Padres chose right-handed pitcher Gabe Ribas in the 14th round of the MLB draft, continuing head coach Paul Stevens’ streak of having at least one player in each of his 15 years at NU snapped up by a professional team.
Chosen as the 415th selection overall, Ribas’ draft marks the eighth consecutive year that a NU hurler has been picked to play ball professionally. He is the 35th athlete and 18th pitcher to be drafted during Stevens’ tenure.
The just-graduated Ribas listened to the draft live over an Internet radio broadcast at his apartment with his roommates on hand. He said the noise in the room reached new levels when the announcer said the words “San Diego Padres” followed by the words “Gabe Ribas.”
“It was pretty explosive,” he said. “When it happened, I think I got a thousand calls in a two-minute span.”
But along with Ribas’ joy of being drafted came some bittersweet feelings. Fellow NU pitchers Ryan Bos and Zach Schara were not picked by a major league team, a shock for both their teammates and coach.
“Ryan and Zach not being drafted – that was a huge surprise,” Stevens said.
Schara struggled early this season, missing the start of Big Ten because of a hand injury. Despite this minor break from play, Schara left his mark on NU’s record books as the Wildcats’ all-time leader in innings pitched (333.1) and strikeouts (289).
For his part, Bos has overcome health problems since freshman year, a fact Stevens said may have been a factor in the pros’ reluctance to take a chance on him. Still, Bos’ record shows above-average talent with 56 strikeouts in 80.1 innings. The left-handed pitcher earned the Cats’ only Big Ten Player of the Week award this season after his 1-0 shutout of Iowa last month, as well.
As the only NU player to make it to the big leagues after this season, Ribas feels the pressure to represent his teammates and friends.
“Zach told me I have to go out and pitch for the two of them,” Ribas said. “Every time I get tired I have to remember that I have to keep on playing because I have this opportunity.”
All is not lost for Bos and Schara, however. There is a chance that they may receive phone calls from major league teams inviting them to try out.
“If someone gives them the opportunity, they’ll continue their domination on the hill,” Stevens said.
“Domination” is not a term unfamiliar to Ribas, a four-year starter for the Cats. His performance in the last regular-season game – he threw a complete-game 4-1 win over Indiana – was a major factor in the Cats’ scramble to the postseason.
During the conference tournament, Ribas pitched a total of 10 2/3 innings, gave up just two runs and struck out 11. To top off the year, the right-hander earned a spot on the 2002 Big Ten All-Tournament team.
Four was Ribas’ lucky number regarding strikeouts this season. His 94 strikeouts in 89.1 innings were enough to finish fourth in both the Big Ten and school history for a single season. For his career, however, Ribas pitched 288 strikeouts in 330.1 innings.
Ribas’ 6.3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio is impressive, as well. He walked only 15 hitters this season, the fewest of his fellow NU pitchers.
Now with his professional career fully underway, Ribas is playing more fiercely than ever. After spending time at the Padres training camp in Arizona, he is playing for one of the team’s single-A farm teams, the Eugene Ems of Eugene, Ore., with the hopes of eventually moving up to the Padres.
“The difference between us (minor-league players) and the major-leaguers is fear,” Ribas said. “Those guys don’t get scared. They’re confident in their ability to go and be a big-leaguer.”
Though not on a high-profile team yet, Ribas has a great deal of respect for his minor league teammates, who include athletes from places from the Dominican Republic to Australia. He realizes the competition is tough to make it onto the Padres roster.
“You have to make sure you do everything you can,” he said. “Some of these guys have nothing to go back to, and that’s their total motivation.”
But Stevens isn’t worried about a lack of motivation from Ribas. The coach is confident that his top pitcher knows how lucky he is to get this far.
“We’re a huge baseball powerhouse – well, I’m kidding,” Stevens said. “Here we talk about the academic side of the future with the athletics just the icing on the cake. If a player can get to the next level, be thankful.”
And Ribas is.
“It’s a different story now,” he said. “The days are longer and you’re expected to do more, but it’s worth it. I get paid to throw a ball.”
